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Kashima Line

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Kashima Line
E131 series train running on the Kitaura Bridge (July 2022)
Overview
OwnerJR East
LocaleChiba Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)JR East, JR Freight
Rolling stockE131 Series
Past: 113 Series, 209 series
History
Opened1970
Technical
Line length17.4 km (10.8 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map

Kashima Soccer Stadium
Ōarai Kashima Line
Kashimajingū
Ōarai Kashima Line
Nobukata
Mae River
Itako
Hitachitone River
Jūnikyō
Tone River
Katori
Sawara

The Kashima Line (鹿島線, Kashima-sen) is a railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Katori Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station by crossing and then following the Tone River, at the border between Chiba Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture.

Operation

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Katori Station is on the Narita Line, and all trains of the Kashima Line run through from/to its neighboring station, Sawara, or beyond it, but all trains terminate at Kashima-Jingū.[1] Only Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line trains run from here to Kashima Soccer Stadium and Mito Station. Kashima Soccer Stadium Station is only temporarily operated when football matches are held at Kashima Soccer Stadium, the home stadium of Kashima Antlers in J.League (Japan Professional Football League).[2]

From Kashima Jingu to Sawara, JR East local trains run approximately once per 1–2 hours. Some Narita Line through service train runs beyond Sawara to Narita. Each day, one through service Sōbu Line (Rapid) train runs to Tokyo Station (weekdays) or Ōfuna Station (weekends and holidays) in the morning, and from Kurihama Station (weekdays) or Tokyo Station (weekends and holidays) in the evening.

Until 2015, the Limited Express Ayame service ran between Tokyo Station and Kashima Jingu once per day, from Kashima Jingu in every morning, from Tokyo in every night, and stopping at all stations on the Kashima Line. From Kashima-Jingū and Mito, Oarai Kashima Line local or rapid diesel trains run approximately once an hour. Normally, no passenger trains stops at Kashima Soccer Stadium, except when football matches are played in the stadium.

JR Freight also operates trains on the line, from the Tokyo area to the Kashima Rinko Line. The trains change its directions at Kashima Soccer Stadium Station.

Stations

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Station Japanese Distance (km)
(from Katori)
Transfers Location
Sawara 佐原 3.6 Narita Line (for Narita and Chiba) Katori Chiba Prefecture
Katori 香取 0.0 Narita Line (for Matsugishi and Chōshi)
Jūnikyō 十二橋 3.0  
Itako 潮来 5.2   Itako Ibaraki Prefecture
Nobukata 延方 10.4  
Kashima-Jingū 鹿島神宮 14.2   Kashima
Kashima Soccer Stadium 鹿島サッカースタジアム 17.4 Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line
Kashima Rinkai Railway Kashima Rinkō Line (freight line)

History

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This line was planned as the main mass transportation method within the Kashima Industrial Zone along the southern coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, to connect with the Tokyo Metropolis.

  • 20 August 1970 – Newly operated between Katori and Kashima-Jingū (14.2 km (8.8 mi)), as JNR Kashima Line.
  • 12 November 1970 – Newly operated between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima (3.2 km (2.0 mi)), as the freight line.
  • 24 October 1974 – The line was electrified.
  • March 1978 – Jet airplane fuel transport service was started from Kashima Rinkai Kashima Rinko Line (owned by Kashima Rinkai Railway), via Kita-Kashima Station, to Tsuchiya Freight Terminal Station, near Narita Station, to supply New Tokyo International Airport.
  • 25 July 1978, Passenger service was begun between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima, as the beginning of passenger service in Kashima Rinko Line.
  • 8 August 1983 – Jet fuel freight line ended (pipelines came on service).
  • 1 December 1983 – The passenger service between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima was abolished, which was started in 1978.
  • 14 March 1985 – The passenger service was re-opened in the section between Kashima- Jingu and Kita-Kashima, as the opening of Kashima Rinkai Oarai Kashima Line.
  • 1 April 1987 – JR East succeeded this line from JNR.
  • 12 March 1994 – Kita-Kashima Station was renamed to Kashima-Soccer-Stadium Station, and it served as a temporary station for football spectators in Kashima Stadium.
  • 2 June 2002 – 2002 FIFA World Cup game, Argentina – Nigeria was played in Kashima Stadium. JR East operated special trains between Chiba Station to Kashima-Soccer-Stadium Station, as special rapid trains.

Rolling stock

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Sōbu Line (Rapid) through service

Past

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References

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  1. ^ "JR鹿島線の時刻表 - 駅探". ekitan.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  2. ^ "水戸方面から公共交通機関をご利用の方 | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
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Media related to Kashima Line at Wikimedia Commons